Intermittently vibrating electric



Dec. 21, 1948. P. H. THOMPSON INTERMITTENTLY VIBRATING ELECTRIC MOTOR Original Filed March 2 1945 FIG. I.

x 'INVENTQR Phi/ 6 H T/lampsolb. "9 5 2 Q Atty.

Patented Dec. 21, 1948 Original application :March 2, i946, "Serial No.

"Divided and this "application Decem- 1 1 This invention relates .tozgas ssulv ns apperatus= and, more particularly, lto water carbonators-,--and' is a a division of :my co-pendingapplication, 'Serial No. 6515647, ifiled March E2, 4946;

Among the several objectsioi thelinv'entinnmiay be noted the provision 'of a water carbonator wherein tap water received at tap water :temperature may be efliciently carbonated; iaherz cnfovision, in such a 1 carbonator including a .pressure tankhaving a tap water supplyirilet and aminlet for'gas under pressure, or means foriautomatically maintaining tank pressure-less"than:the*tap water pressure; "the provision in I such ea carbonator of jimproved'means for agitating and spreiye ing thewater requiring no *rotaryshaftxpacking and-the provision of apparatus of the lasscdescribed which requires :rlatively'iew andis'imple parts. Other objects will'be in part obviouszand in part pointed-out hereinafter.

The-invention accordingly comprises thelelemerits and combinations of elementspfeatures-cf construction, and arrangements of parts which will 'be exemplified *in the structures hereinaiter described, and the scope of the applicationiof which will be indicated in the "following-claims. 'In'the accompanying drawings, :mwman one of various possibleembodiments of {theainverttion is-illustrated, Figure '1 is a vertical section through-carbonating apparatus exemplifying th'e inventiongenii illustrating in a diagrammatic elevation 'a control associated therewith; and

Figure 2 is a section on line 22of Figure 1. "Similar reference characters *indi'cate corresponding :parts "throughoutithe several viewscof the drawings.

'Referring now to the drawings, a pressure'tank l,contain'ing tap Water which is to beicarbonated, has-a tap water inlet pipe '3 and awarbon'ated water outlet pipe '5. The top of the'tan-k "is dome-'shapedj Pipe 3 is connecte'd into "orre arm of a T "lyatapwater supply pipe Q being'sconnected into'the other arrn'of :the T. iPipe' m-" is' connected to a suitable source of :water under pressure, such as a "city water main. -:-A conduit II, to be referred 'to hereinafter, is connected into therstem of the'T.

The normal water level in tank I is as shown in Figured. The water level'is controlled by a float-operated valve in "-the lower end ot water inletpipe 3, the lower *endi-of; pipe :3' belng closed by'a'cap it having a bracket 15 "depending therefrom. Pivotally mounted fat '1] in ithe bracket 15 is a 'float' arm lil'havingea floatdlr dt (fie endiandza valveifi ion valve stem fl atiits '6 -.Claims. (Cl.3 18--120) otheraend. Naive 228 is adapted ito -:'close an vapertune 2 1 in the end *of said cap 13 when ifioat .21 rises; This occurs :upon .a.=rise:=of the waterdevel inisaiditank'aboveznormal, saidz-aperture .21 being opened' when the water level i'fialls '1 below normal, due .5110 -mitlidravva'l :of carbonated [Water :from the tank. :gper.ture :21 :is sufficiently :large so that waterzrnay flow aroundlvalvestemazli ,A carbon idioxiiie ((00 2) gasrinlet ;.pipe :29 ex- .ten'dsinto stank 1| "andlhas apertures i3l within Strum which gas bubbles into ithe water. Pipe 5519 *is connected, outside ithe tank, to ith'e outlet Lona gasssupplyiregulator and control'r valve generally d'esignatedfl. "This i-val-ve controls flow dt-zgasctromta Gorgas supply pipe \-3-5= to said tank. Ripe? is cnnne'cted ito :a source of 1C0: under pressure. Control valve :33 is :provi'dedito main taimthe pressure :in :tank 2| 3 less'fthan the pressure of water in (inlet 4!, .since, if the tank pressure were permitted to becomeihiherithan the=pressure 50f the water :supply, :water could :not flow intoitheitank.

wontro'l -valve' 33 lcomprises a casing formed by upper and lowerigen'era'lly imp-shaped valvecasing member's 35 and -31, respectively, having re cessed flanges fl and 4 I thereon.

Between their time 43 ianii K5 is clamped a flexible diaphragm fl, insealed relation thereto, dividing said-"casing into upper and lower-ehanibersM ami 4'6. Diaphra'gm 4115 centered-by a'pairaof annular spring rings 48- and 5'l disposed in 'therecesses of the flanges 38 and M, "respectively. Conduit H is connected 'to andnlet G'Iin-thewdll of theupper wal-veicaeingmemberfiso that said-upper chamber-'fl is fllled with tap water-and the diaphragm l1 pressed from-above by the pressure or said tap -water. "Diaphragm #41 is also adjustably biased -'downward bywa compression spring in the lupper 'chaniber u. The top -w-all of theupper member 35 is iormed with .a threaded bore 5 1 invwhichtis threaded an aiijusting studifl having a spring centeringseat'fil -on its end within the casing, :its-rother en'd being' :slotted, as indicated at fll, to ireceive an-adjusting ltool. Adjustment ofu-stuti fl -is maintained by a' l'ok nutti. The lower :end of springfifl is centered 'EJby a seat *6"! ou diaphragm fl 'l'llhe lower valve casingzrnember fl has an inlet conduit "Til seated in apertures in opposite "sides of the walls of said member 31. One endof said inlet conduit is ciosed'as indicated at n, and the gas rsupplyzpipe :35 is connected into the'other and of said inlet :conduit. An aperture 13 is formed *in the lower :wau of said inlet 7 conduit l within chamber. ,iA valve elementl iis a'dapt-' ed to close off said aperture 13 when raised from the position thereof shown in Figure 1 into seatin engagement with that portion of the wall of inlet conduit 1I surrounding said aperture. The valve element 15 is mounted in a U-shaped stirrup 11 having lateral arms 19 retained against the under side of diaphragm 41 by the lower annular spring ring 5|.

It will be observed that flexible diaphragm 41 is pressed upward by pressure of gas in lower valve chamber 46. The lower spring ring 5I exerts upward force on the diaphragm 41. The pressure of water in upper chamber 44, the compression spring 55, and the upper spring ring 49 exert downward pressure on the diaphragm 41. The lower spring ring 5I is formed to exert substantially more force on diaphragm 41 than the combined forces of spring 55 and upper spring ring 49. The differential between the upward and the downward spring forces may be varied by adjusting spring 55. This differential is such that the diaphragm 41 is moved upward to move valve element 15 to close off aperture 13 when the gas pressure in lower chamber 46 (which is the same as the pressure in the tank) is a predetermined amount less than the water pressure in the upper chamber 44. For example, spring 55 may be adjusted to provide a five-pound operating pressure differential between the line 9 and the interior of the tank I. If the tap water pressure is, for example, thirty pounds, the valve element will close when the gas pressure is twenty-five pounds, and will open when the gas pressure is less than twenty-five pounds. If the tap water pressure varies, the same operating pressure differential is maintained automatically. If the tap water pressure should fall to twenty pounds, the valve will close when the gas pressure is fifteen pounds, Screw 59 controls only the amount of the pressure differential.

A tube 85, preferably of stainless steel is secured (as by welding), in an aperture 81 in the top of pressure tank I. This tube projects upward from the tank through a solenoid 88, the latter being mounted on the tank. Slidably mounted in said tube 85 is a solenoid plunger or armature 89, preferably comprising a completely "closed cylindrical stainless steel or similar non-corrosive cylindric container 9|, hermetically sealed at both ends by caps 94 and filled with tightly packed magnetic particles 92, such as iron filings, or particles of precipitated pure iron. A plunger rod 93, secured to the lower end of said plunger 89, extends downward into the tank, sliding in a bearing 95 in the lower end of tube 05. A compression spring 91 is interposed between the lower end of the plunger 89 and the bearing 95, biasing plunger 89 upward. The upper end of tube 85 is hermetically sealed by a welding plug 99, so as to prevent leakage of gas from the tank I, and the solenoid 88 and the projecting end of tube 85 are enclosed within a dome-shaped casing IN.

A plunger bell or cup, generally designated by reference character I05, is secured to the lower end of plunger rod 93. The plunger cup, as illustrated in Figure 1, is substantially in the form of a hollow truncated cone, the conical wall I01 thereof being internally braced by three radial ribs I09, III and H3. The ribs merge at the center line of the cone and are thickened at their upper central portions, as indicated at I I5, forming a hub I I1. Hub I I1 is formed with a threaded bore therein receiving threaded lower end II9 of plunger rod 93. Said thickened portions II5 also cooperate with an outwardly curved lip I20 on 4 the upper end of conical wall I01 to form, in effect, a nozzle for directing water forced through the upper end of said cup I05 outwardly, as indicated by dash lines A in Figure 1.

Upon energization of solenoid 88, plunger cup I05 is rapidly forced down into the water in tank I, thereby forcing water upward through the three nozzle apertures I2I, I23, and I25 between the ribs in the upper end of said plunger cup I09. The apertures cause the water to spray upward and outward. Figure 1 shows the plunger and plunger cup approaching the lower end of the stroke. When plunger 89 moves downward, spring 91 is compressed and, upon deenergizatlon of the solenoid 88, the spring forces the plunger to the upper limit of its stroke. The specific construction of the plunger cup I05 described herein is merely exemplary of the principles involved and any other form of plunger cup adapted to spray water upward and outward, as illustrated by the dashed lines A in Figure 1, may be used. The chief criterion is that it shall be hollow and flared downward as a bell with a relatively small outlet, or outlets, at the top. This accelerates the water to form a spray.

The plunger assembly (comprising plunger 38. plunger rod 93 and plunger cup I05) is adapted periodically to be reciprocated rapidly for a short time interval. This is accomplished by a solenoid control. generally designated I3I. This control is so constructed as, for example, to deenergize solenoid 88 completely for fourteen minutes, then rapidly and intermittently energize and deenergiZe solenoid 8B for one minute, then completely deenergize solenoid 88 for fourteen minutes, and so on. It will be understood that these time intervals are merely illustrative.

Solenoid control I3I, as shown in Figure 1, comprises a constant-speed timing motor I33, such as a synchronous motor, whose rotor I30 is geared, as indicated at I31, to a crankshaft I38. A mercury switch MI is pivotally mounted at one end I43 to a stationary bracket I45. A connecting rod I41 is connected between crankpin I49 of crankshaft I39 and a collar I5I on the other end of said mercury switch I 4|, so that rotation of crankshaft I39 oscillates switch I 4| at a rate desired for reciprocation of the plunger I05. Such oscillation of switch I4I rapidly makes and breaks the circuit in which said switch is connected. A cam I53 is arranged to close a pair of switch contacts I55 and I51 periodically. This cam is driven by a worm gear I59 meshing with a worm I6I fixed on the end of crankshaft I39. This worm and worm gear drive functions as a speed reducing mechanism so that cam I 53 is driven at a speed lower than that of crankshaft I39. The lobe I63 of cam I53 is of such form as to maintain contacts I55 and I51 closed for a predetermined period, such as the one minute period referred to previously, and the remainder of the periphery of the cam I53 is of such form as to permit contacts I55 and I51 to remain open for a longer predetermined period, such as the fourteen minute period referred to previously. Contact I55 is fixed on the free end of a sprin switch arm I65 biased against cam I53. Contact I51 is disposed at the end of a fixed switch arm I66. The electrical circuit comprises solenoid 88, contacts I55 and I51 and switch MI, and a parallel circuit including the field of motor I33, both circuits being energized by power supply lines Ill and I13. Specifically, the power supply line I13 is connected to one terminal of mercury switch I4I. Conductor I18 connects the-r=other terminal :of .said ==mercimy switchto arm rl65iof the cam-controlled switch. Conductor -'I'I.1 connects one --terminal :of solenoid -88 to fixed switch .-arm ameand conductor I19 connects theflother terminal of solenoid 88 to power supply lin.e=1I'-1I. Field I.8I :of motor I33 is connected .across epower lines Ill and I13, .so that itisnot affected byopeningz andsclosing:of switch -I 4 I t-andcon'tacts I355zand 21.51.

The operation-of the apparatus is2as follows:

:Pipes 3 and H and vuppervalve casing member :35 are filled with tapwaterfrom tap-@water supply pipes. If the water level in tank I is normal, valve .23 is closed. .No water flowsinto the tank. If the water level ;is 1t0o low, due to carbonated water havingbeen drawn off through outlet.5, valve-23, opens1and admits water to-make up-the deficiency.

It may be assumed that, at the start of the operation, tank I.has .becn-filledtonormal level with tapwater, but thatthere is noigas-therein. Since, in such event, there-is less pressureaon the underside of diaphragm 41 than onits upper side, the diaphragm is biased downward by the pressure of tap water in upper valve chamber :44, and valve element .'l5.opens. Gas then flows from the source through pipe 35 and through aperture I3 into the lower chamber 46 and through gas inlet pipe29 into-the tank. Pressurebuilds up in the tank and lower chamber 46 until it is sufficiently high to overcome the downward bias on diaphragm 41. Valve 1. element .15 then closes to cut off flow of gas into the lower chamber 46 and the tank. As .has been previously pointed out, said valve element closes when the pressure in the tank and'lower chamber builds up to a predetermined value somewhatjless than the pressure of the tap water. "How .much 'less is determined by'the setting of I compression spring 55. Control valve 33 thus functions tomaintain the pressure of gas in the tank always'less than the pressure of the tap water supply, so that tap-water may always flow into the tank when called for by openingpf the float valve 23. This eliminates any necessity for a tap Water pump.

to :force water into v tlne tank against *the pressure therein. The relationship between the pressure of. gas in .the tankand @the pressure of tap water supply is maintained even though the pressure of the tap water supply should vary, as it often-does,-since the valvecloses whenever the tank pressure becomes a predetermined number of pounds less than the tap water pressure, despite the actual values of these pressures. If the pressure of the tank should fall, due, for example, to drawing off of carbonated water therefrom, the gas pressure in lower chamber 46 falls and valve element "I5 opens to admit gas to the tank and build up the pressure therein to said value a predetermined number of pounds less than tap 'water pressure. This provides a desirable constant degree of carbonation.

When contacts I55 and I5! are closed by the lobe I63 of cam I53, and when the terminals of mercury switch I4I are bridged by the mercury therein, the circuit of solenoid 88 is completed and the solenoid is energized to drive its plunger 88, plunger rod 93 and cup I05 downward, forcing said cup down into the water and spraying water upward and outward through the nozzle apertures I2I, I23 and I25 in the upper end of said cup. Since mercury switch MI is being rapidly oscillated, however, it functions rapidly to make and break said circuit, thereby rapidly intermittently energizing and deenergizing the solenoid 188. isuchtaetion causes :rapid timimf tplungerl cup :I 05 etc .:agltate: and smith: water upward and outward previously scribed. Shelia-action l continues as '3 long :as ithe lobe H63 mnccam I53 tmaintains contactsalli-sand I51 closed. When 'ilobe H83 irides .01! the swing arm F155,! contacts t55 sand I51 l are mpened, raid eventhoughmercury switch vI4I continues 'ito oscillatepthe r solenoidscircuit is broken until ilobe I33ragain engages zarm I265. Thus cam Mummitions zto condition the .solenoid circuit? for-:operation of the solenoid for a short time interyaliand switch I4 I 'functions E to energize and deenergize the solenoidrrapidly during that short interval.

Carbonationis effected both inthe-water and in the space above. Gas flowing into through inlet pipe 29 bubbles out into :the water through apertures 3.3I. Some of-the gas isdlssolved :as it bubbles upward through the witter. The "remainder :bubbles to the surface :anil out into'the space thereabove. Some of :the latter is dissolved in the spray abovethe water suflace,

gaszinithe space thereabove coming intointhnate surface contact withthe broken-up :water particles in said spray :and with the large-suriace area of water cascadingover the-interior of the walls of the tank. The water in the tank is agitated and sprayed upward and outward against the flame-shaped top and side walls-of theflitank during-spaced short intervals. The water cascading over the dome-shaped top :and side of the tank also presents large surface :areas thereof .not only for :gas absorptionbut also ior heat trans'fer. For example, thetank 1 maybe surrounded by: a cooling mediumsuch 'askice.

The length of the period ofoperation o'f the plunger and the length of the interval therebetween are determined by'the speed and development of cam I53, and may be'varied by substituting different worms and worm gears andlorr different .cams :to providev for 1 different conditions oi use. :If the .demandfor 'carbonated-waterzis great in a particular instance, suchza worm fll,

wormzgear I59 (and cam I53 may be :use'd as will effect relativelylonger periods of 'operationidf ithe plungerv withirelatively. shortercintervals' between SLlChipEl'iOdS.

Thefconstruction. herein disclosed imayrbelmade very ..small and this is :an important advantage. structurally it is very simple. Anotherradvantage'ais :that no shaft'ssea'ls ioripackings are mquired. The tube is merely welded shut at its upper end by plug 99, and to the tank at 81, and leakage of gas from the tank is thereby effectively prevented. The solenoid control l3l may be of a suitable construction other than that disclosed and may be enclosed within the domeshaped casing IIII.

An important point of the invention is that although the armature 89 is operating in an atmosphere of moisture and CO2, it will not, like ordinary laminated iron armatures, tend to disintegrate. This is because of the use of the enclosing stainless steel tube 9| surrounding the magnetic iron 92. Such a tube is non-corrosive in the presence of the contents of the tank and protects the comminuted magnetic iron, which would otherwise be corroded. This form of iron also has low hysteresis losses and is easier to organize in its protective compartment than would be laminated iron sheets.

It is to be understood that all parts within the tank, and even the tank itself, are to be made of non-corrosive materials, such as stainless steel.

Although the particular disclosure of the invencontained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1. In apparatus of the character described, a plunger, a solenoid for operating said plunger, a circuit for connecting said solenoid to a source of electrical energy, relatively movable contacts in said circuit, means for periodically maintaining said contacts closed for a predetermined 5 period and for maintaining said contacts open for a different period, a switch in said circuit, and means for continuously and rapidly opening and closing said switch, whereby, when said contacts are closed, said solenoid is rapidly energized and deenergized, thereby reciprocating said plunger.

2 In apparatus for the character described, a plunger, a solenoid for operating said plunger, and means for intermittently energizing and deenergizing said solenoid at periodic intervals comprising a circuit for connecting saidsolenoid to a source of electrical energy, a timing motor, a crankshaft driven thereby, a switch in said circuit, a connecting rod linking said crankshaft and switch for rapidly opening and closing said switch, normally open contacts in said circuit, a cam controlling said contacts for periodically maintaining said contacts closed for a predetermined interval and permitting said contacts to remain open for a longer predetermined interval, said cam being driven by said crankshaft through a speed reducing mechanism.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a plunger, a solenoid for operating said plunger, and means for intermittently energizing and deenergizing said solenoid at period intervals comprising a circuit for connecting said solenoid to a source of electrical energy, a timing motor, a crankshaft driven thereby, a switch in said circuit, a connecting rod linking said crankshaft and switch for rapidly opening and closing said switch, normally open contacts in said circuit, a. cam controlling said contacts for periodically maintaining said contacts closed for a predetermined interval and permitting said contacts to remain open for longer predetermined interval.

4. In apparatus of the character described, a plunger, a solenoid for operating said plunger, and means for intermittently energizing and deenergizing said solenoid at periodic intervals comprising a circuit for connecting said solenoid to a source of electrical energy, a timing motor, two switches in said circuit, means driven by said motor for opening and closing at rapid frequency one of said switches, and means also driven by said motor for opening and closing the other switch at slow frequency for producing cyclically recurring intervals of intermittent current flow in said circuit.

5. In combination with a solenoid, an electrical circuit including two switches, a rotating cam operably connected to one of said switches for holding said switch closed for a predetermined time-interval, a reciprocating member for intermittently opening and closing the other switch during said time-interval, and a timing motor for operating the cam and the reciprocating member.

6. In apparatus of the character described, an armature, a solenoid for operating said armature, relatively movable contacts electrically connected in circuit with the solenoid and a source of electrical energy, means for periodically maintaining said contacts closed for a predetermined period and for maintaining said contacts open for a difierent period, a switch in said circuit, and means for continuously and rapidly opening and closing said switch whereby when said contacts are closed said solenoid is rapidly energized and de-energized thereby reciprocating said armature.

PARKE H. THOMPSON REFERENCES CITED The following references file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS are of record in the Number 

